Image sensor unit, paper sheet distinguishing apparatus, reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image sensor unit includes a light condenser that collects light from a reading target object; an image sensor that receives light and converts the light into an electric signal; an elongated housing that houses the light condenser and the image sensor; and an elongated rigid member attached to a side surface extending in the elongated direction of the housing. The side surface of the housing is provided with an attachment protrusion. The rigid member is provided with an attachment hole that penetrates from a surface facing the side surface of the housing to a non-facing surface on the opposite side, and the non-facing surface of the rigid member is provided with a concave. The attachment protrusion is inserted into the attachment hole, and a part of the attachment protrusion is fit into the concave.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image sensor unit, comprising:
 a lens array that condenses light from a target object; 
 an image sensor that receives the light condensed by the lens array; 
 an elongated housing elongated in a first direction and that supports the lens array and the image sensor, the elongated housing having a side surface extending in the first direction; and 
 an elongated rigid member that has a facing surface facing the side surface and an opposite surface opposite to the facing surface across a thickness of the elongated rigid member, 
 wherein 
 the elongated rigid member is provided with a penetration-hole that extends from the facing surface to the opposite surface, and the opposite surface of the elongated rigid member has a concave portion, and 
 a protrusion provided on the side surface extends through the penetration-hole and is positioned in the concave portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The image sensor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated rigid member is provided with two or more penetration-holes. 
     
     
       3. The image sensor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the concave portion has at least one of an annular shape that encircles the penetration-hole, a plurality of grooves that extend in directions different from each other, a groove that extends in the first direction, and a hole provided at an end of an inner circumferential surface of the penetration-hole in the first direction. 
     
     
       4. The image sensor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the concave portion is provided at at least one of opposite ends and a center portion of the opposite surface of the elongated rigid member in the first direction. 
     
     
       5. The image sensor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided at each of opposite ends of the side surface of the housing in the first direction. 
     
     
       6. The image sensor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided at a center portion of the side surface of the housing in the first direction. 
     
     
       7. A reading apparatus that includes an image sensor unit for reading a reading target object,
 wherein the image sensor unit is the image sensor unit according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       8. A paper sheet distinguishing apparatus that includes an image sensor unit for reading a paper sheet,
 wherein the image sensor unit is the image sensor unit according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image reading part provided with an image sensor unit for reading a reading target object; and 
 an image forming part that forms an image, 
 wherein the image sensor unit is the image sensor unit according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       10. An image sensor unit that reads a reading target object by receiving light from the reading target object, comprising:
 a lens array that condenses light from the reading target object; 
 an image sensor that receives the light condensed by the lens array; 
 an elongated housing elongated in a first direction and that supports the lens array and the image sensor, the elongated housing having a side surface extending in the first direction; and 
 an elongated rigid member that has a facing surface facing the side surface and an opposite surface opposite to the facing surface across a thickness of the elongated rigid member, 
 wherein 
 the elongated rigid member is provided with a penetration-hole that extends from the facing surface to the opposite surface, and the opposite surface of the elongated rigid member has a protrusion, 
 a protrusion provided on the side surface extends through the penetration-hole, and 
 the protrusion on the opposite surface of the rigid member extends into the protrusion on the side surface that extends through the penetration-hole. 
 
     
     
       11. The image sensor unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the protrusion is provided at each of opposite ends of the side surface of the housing in the first direction. 
     
     
       12. The image sensor unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the protrusion is provided at a center portion of the side surface of the housing in the first direction. 
     
     
       13. A paper sheet distinguishing apparatus that includes an image sensor unit for reading a paper sheet,
 wherein the image sensor unit is the image sensor unit according to  claim 10 . 
 
     
     
       14. A reading apparatus that includes an image sensor unit for reading a reading target object,
 wherein the image sensor unit is the image sensor unit according to  claim 10 . 
 
     
     
       15. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image reading part provided with an image sensor unit for reading a reading target object; and 
 an image forming part that forms an image, 
 wherein the image sensor unit is the image sensor unit according to  claim 10 .